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International visitors lead Toronto to new tourism records

TORONTO, Feb. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - Toronto's tourism sector reached new
records in 2013 by welcoming the highest number of overseas visitors
and selling the most hotel room nights ever, Tourism Toronto announced
today. Additionally, for the third year in a row Toronto saw an
increase in overnight visitors from the U.S.

Tourism Toronto's estimates for 2013 show that Toronto welcomed a total
of 13.69 million* overnight visitors led by growth in international
visitor arrivals. The 1.42 million visitors who arrived from overseas
markets (all countries other than Canada and the U.S.) was the highest
figure ever. A further 2.18 million Americans arrived in the
destination for an overnight stay, marking a third straight year of
growth from the vital U.S. market. The record number of hotel room
nights sold was 9.22 million, up 2.8 per cent over 2012, and translated
to 69.3 per cent hotel occupancy in 2013.

"The momentum of the past several years and continued repositioning of
our product has propelled Toronto to another strong year," said David
Whitaker, President and CEO of Tourism Toronto. "Our growth strategy
focuses on high-value visitors from major U.S. cities and key overseas
markets such as the U.K., Germany, China, Japan and Brazil."

While visitors from other parts of Canada remain the largest market for
tourism in Toronto, international visitors tend to stay longer and
spend more while here.

"In 2013, overseas visitors stayed in paid accommodations an average of
4.5 nights per trip," said Terry Mundell, President of the Greater
Toronto Hotel Association. "That represents over 1 billion in spending
in the destination, and is a significant contributor to jobs throughout
the region."

Total visitor spending, including same-day trips, was $6.54 billion in
the Toronto region across a range of businesses and activities
including accommodations, attractions, restaurants, taxis, retail and
entertainment. The tourism and hospitality sector employs 315,000
people across the Toronto region in a wide range of businesses that
rely on inbound tourism.

The U.K. remains Toronto's largest overseas visitor market with 201,000
arrivals in 2013. China leads the new growth, increasing 15 per cent
last year and 58 per cent since 2010, accounting for 181,000 visitors
to the Toronto region in 2013.

Tourism Toronto estimates show that in 2013, Toronto saw a 1.7 per cent
increase in overnight visitors from the U.S. over 2012 and a 9.7 per
cent increase over 2010. In addition, the U.S. traveller profile
continues to shift toward high-value urban dwellers that are likely to
fly to Toronto, stay longer and spend more. Americans who flew to
Toronto accounted for 61 per cent of total U.S. visitors in 2013, up
from 51 per cent in 2009.

Toronto is the most-visited destination in Canada by fellow Canadians
with 10.09 million overnight visits (and a further 25 million same-day
visits) in 2013. These visits generated spending of $2.31 billion in
the destination.

Conventions and events
Conventions, meetings and events continue to provide solid, long-term
business for the region. In 2013, Tourism Toronto and its partners
booked 745 future meetings and conventions that will bring 406,000
attendees to Toronto, Mississauga and Brampton and generate 593,000
future hotel room nights. Of these meetings booked in 2013, 15 are
considered "major meetings" with more than 1,100 attendees at multiple
hotels and whose meetings will be based at the Metro Toronto Convention
Centre.

Some of the major wins for Toronto in 2013 for future years were the
Canadian Federation for the Humanities & Social Sciences in 2017 (9,000
attendees), Alzheimer's Association in 2016 (6,000) and ACN in 2014
(2,000). Toronto also won the opportunity to host one of the most
sought-after sporting events with the NBA All-Star Game choosing
Toronto for 2016.

In 2013, Toronto hosted several significant events including the
National Medical Association (6,500 attendance), Little Native Hockey
League (6,000) and the Barbershop Harmony Society (11,000).

"Having prestigious, international events choose Toronto is a boost to
our reputation as a major event destination," said David Whitaker. "The
momentum of major events continues as we welcome World Pride this
summer and the Pan Am / Parapan Am Games in 2015."

About Tourism Toronto
Tourism Toronto, Toronto's Convention and Visitors Association, is an
industry association of more than 1,100 members established to sell and
market the greater Toronto region as a remarkable destination for
tourists, convention delegates and business travellers around the
globe. Tourism Toronto operates in partnership with the Ontario
Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport and the Greater Toronto Hotel
Association. For more information please visit www.seetorontonow.com.

*Notes regarding statistics: A recent methodological change by Statistics Canada has resulted in
revised figures for domestic travellers that are not comparable with
visitor estimates previously published by Tourism Toronto. All figures
contained in this release should be cited to Tourism Toronto.